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Air, Atmosphere, Fronts, Air Masses, Wind, Storms Study Guide

March 2015

Please write your answers on a sheet of notebook paper. This completed study guide is DUE

AIR and AMOSPHERE Ch. 15 section 1 p. 448 – 453

  1. Which layer of the atmosphere does most weather occur?
  1. Describe the thermosphere (including where it is located and temperature)
  1. Describe the stratosphere (including where it is located, temperature, and what is found in the stratosphere.)
  1. Are the densest layer of the atmosphere and the coldest layer of the atmosphere the same layer? Explain your answer.
  1. What is the difference between convection, conduction, and radiation? Be able to give one example of each.

AIR MASSES and WEATHER FRONTS Ch. 16 section 2 p. 490 – 493

  1. What are the two ways air masses are characterized?
  1. What is the difference between a maritime and a continental air mass?
  1. What is the difference between a polar and tropical air mass?
  1. Where would you find a continental polar air mass? What type of weather would it bring?
  1. How does a cold front form? What kind of weather does a cold front bring?
  1. How does a warm front form? What kind of weather does a warm front bring?
  1. How does a stationary front form? What kind of weather does a stationary front bring?
  1. How does an occluded front form? What kind of weather does an occluded front bring?

WINDS Ch. 15 section 3 p. 458 – 463

  1. What causes wind?
  1. How do the trade winds, westerlies, and polar easterlies differ in location and direction of wind?
  1. Which two global winds are similar because they produce very weak winds?
  1. Draw and label a sea breeze and a land breeze. Label the direction of the wind, high and low pressure, temperatures.

STORMS Ch. 16 section 3 p. 496

  1. What are the ingredients for a thunderstorm?
  1. What are similarities for hurricanes and tornadoes?
  1. What are the parts of a hurricane?
  1. Describe a tornado.

Other Important Stuff

22. What is the greenhouse effect?

23. What generally causes differences in air pressure on Earth?

24. What is a storm surge?

25. Describe the weather conditions on the windward side of a mountain?

26. What kind of weather would a cumulonimbus cloud most likely bring?

27. What type of clouds usually indicates fair weather?

28. What do each of these instruments measure?

a. thermometer

b. psychrometer

c. barometer

29. Which one can hold more water vapor, warm or cold air?

30. What are the weather symbols for an occluded, stationary, cold, and warm front?